The Finishing Touch
If you ask homeowners which rooms they would like to renovate, 90 percent will say a kitchen or bathroom. Our needs and functions have changed, and these rooms can present a ton of choices and challenges to those who embark on a renovation or update. An often oversight is the edge profile detail of the countertop.
With the recent advance of CNC technology, granite, marble and quartz countertops have virtually limitless possibilities when it comes to finishing edge profiles. From the most simple and clean edges to styles that make up the more elaborate, we can finish your stone almost any way you'd like. We can assist you with the edge profile decision - what many consider to be as important as choosing the style of stone itself - by explaining some of the benefits of certain profiles versus others, taking into account aesthetics and function.
 
Basic Edges

The most basic countertop edge is the straight edge. It is a squared edge, with only a very slight bevel, called a chamfer, to take the sharpness from the edges. A popular quarter round, where both the top and bottom edges are rounded. Bullnose is a variation where the top edge is rounded more dramatically, and a full bullnose converts the edge of the countertop to a perfect half-circle. Beveled edges are also popular, and the bevel can be carved on either the top or bottom edges...or both. 


Fancy Edges
 
Fancier edges are available, usually at extra cost to the consumer. Perhaps the most popular is the ogee. Inspired by medieval European architecture, the ogee edge consists of two graceful, sweeping arches, one concave, and the other convex. It adds a very elegant look to countertops. Other popular edges include DuPont-a straight edge dropping down to a curve, cove -a concave bevel on the top edge, stair tread (a curved undercut lip), and waterfall (three cascading convex arches) and Mitre (great for a contemporary look).



Switch It Up 
 
The thickness of the countertop makes a difference in which edge profiles are available, and which look best. The standard kitchen countertop is 1 1/2" thick. Luxury countertops are cut 2 ¼" thick. Some economy countertops are ¾" thick, supported underneath by a layer of medium density fiberboard. Bathroom vanities are typically ¾" thick.

The more complex edge profiles don't look good on ¾" countertops, and aren't as strong. For ¾" bath vanities, it's best to choose a basic edge profile. If you've chosen an economical ¾" kitchen countertop, and still desire a complex profile, you may be able to choose a 20+20 edge option, which is a strip of stone molding glued to the underside of the countertop edge, therefore providing the illusion of a 1 1/2" slab.
 
The popular edges are, for the most part, practical for any use in the kitchen or bathroom. So the primary factor to consider when you make your edge profile choice is aesthetic. Which do you like the best? Which will compliment your space? If your kitchen is contemporary or industrial, an ogee edge will look out of place with its classic curves, and you'd be serviced better by a bevel. A country-style kitchen would be enhanced by waterfall edges. And the stair tread or ogee edges would fit nicely in a modern, elegant space.
 
Do keep in mind, though, that any crease in the edge profile may be a potential trap for food and dust, and the more creases within the edge profile, the more maintenance and cleaning the countertop will require. Budget is an issue, perhaps using a fancier edge on the island for visual impact and switching up the perimeter with a ¾" edge detail.

Ultimately, you should choose the edge profile that you like the best.  Remember that once you buy a natural stone countertop, it will last the rest of your life, so choose the edge that you love, even if it costs a little more. You'll be glad you did.